Google is introducing a feature to Android that will add an extra layer of privacy when browsing websites in Incognito mode.
The tech giant has revealed that the ability to lock Incognito sessions in Chrome behind biometric authentication on mobile devices is currently making its way to Android users after debuting on iOS. When this feature is turned on, users will have to confirm their identity via facial or fingerprint authentication every time they return to the Incognito tab after exiting Chrome or switching to another app.
With online risks on the rise, Chrome’s “privacy by design” approach means users can complete an online purchase, get work done or pay a bill with a little more peace of mind.
Built-in features like Google Password Manager make logging in safe across all devices and help detect compromised passwords. Along with providing strong default protections, the company makes privacy controls easy to find, understand, and use in Chrome. While many of these features are widely known, Chrome includes many privacy settings and security features that may be new to most users.
Locked Incognito sessions first became available on Android in 2022 – more than a year after Google began testing them for iPhone and iPad – but as an experimental feature that must be enabled via a flag.
Based on 9to5Google’s experience using it on Android last year, this feature will show a gray screen with the Incognito logo in the center when you return to a tab protected by the privacy feature. You’ll then need to tap “Unlock Incognito” to open biometric authentication or choose to verify your identity with a PIN.